The Sunday herald., 1887-01-23
RANDOM WRITINGS.

Hon. John s. Barbour, chairman Of the House
District Committee Ia man who has all his life had
experience with large business AFFAIRS "A a Con.
federate stan o'cer. directing railroad transporta
tion, and atterward as president OF the virginia
Midland, he has become thoroughly conversant with
class OF questions which arc constantly before
Congress. MIR. Barbour kept his eyes open during
his recent European tour, and his observations are
often OF practical Interest here Abiding the other
hay TO Gen. Hanss proposition TO have draw built
In the Apueduct Bridge, Mr. Barbour said that the
English and French were away ahead Of us on the
draw question. Not one of the bridges over the
Thames or the Seine has a draw. When steamers
pass under these bridges they drop their smokesacks
which is much better than blocking the trar,c
across the bridges by opening draws. Naturally
MFR. Barbour thinks the plan OF putting a draw in
the Aqueduct Bridge Is absurd
Referring to the street railroad question, MIR. Bar.
hour said cities like London and Paris did not allow
nl their best streets TO be cut up by car tracks, and
such things as cable roads were unknown. In Lon.
don the heavy travel was provided for by the under
ground system OF steam roads. He remarked that
In Philadelphia during the recent cold weather the
cable roads coud not be operated. The system
simply broke down or froze up. MIR. Barbour
thinks the rate of speed proposed for the cable roads
dangerous one, and called attention to the fac,
that the steam railroads In the District arc re.
stricted TO four miles per hour while 1t Is proposed
10 run the traction cars at a speed OF ten miles per
hour. He thought such a speed In city streets
would cause multitude OF fatal accidents.
Apensicn once oiiiciai saws: "The average pen.
sion seekers idea OF the power OF nlu-
ence Is unbounded. The greatest hindrance we have
In otr work answering the requests Of Congressman
up for further evidence. We notify tho applicant
that such ana such evidence Is needed to complete
the case. Instead OF furnishing the necessary am
davits the rensioner writes to Congressman beg.
ging him to see why his or her pension is not
granted. Then the Congressman writes to the once
and inquiries about such a case. We write an in-
mediate reply, giving the exact status OF the case
ana specifying the missing evidence, as we have
already done to the applicant 1t does not help the
case at all, but 1t gives the Congressman something
to do and makes II necessary to have more clerks In
the Pension once, as 1t adds materially to the work
OF the bureau. Many times the applicants think
there is strength in numbers and they write to
half dozen members. In one case awaiting cvl.
dence l lately received a request from Senator
Dawes. took down the die cases, made an ex.
haustive search to be certain nothing had been
added since the last action taken, and wrote full
statement OF the case TO him. Next day comes
letter In the same case from Senator Hoar. This
was easier to answer, as had only to copy the let
ter Just sent to Mr. Dawes Next day comes letter
from Representative lowering calling up the same
case, and two days aterward the fourth letter from
Congressman each having been separately beseeched
TO help tue same poor widow to get her pension
through. Miss Cleveland used to be great fayorite
with pension applicants she had numerous cases
sentto her, with requests for her aid In getting them
passed. Now Mrs. Cleveland receives grea, num-
ners OF such letters. That IT, the clerk at the White
House receives them and puts them Immediately In
printed envelopes addressed to the Commissioner Of
Pensions. Occasionally one Is sent to the President
but not often. They usually ask Mrs. Cleveland to
ask her husband to attend to their business. Prob.
ably Gen. Logan had more letters of that character
than any other person. His reputation as friend
OF the soldiers brought him communications from
all over the country. People from New England
and other States, who had never seen him and never
expected TO, applied to him for help in getting pen.
slons He was constantly writing to the Pension
ONCE In these cases. You can never convince the
penslon-seeker that there are fixed rules as to the
evidence required to get pension, that the once
will act Immediately on their application, and II the
evidence is complete will grant the pension In a very
short time. II the evidence il not complete 1t win
not be granted, aud no amount OF outside inter.
ference will hasten it,
The funeral OF Gen. Hazen last Tuesday gave all
opportunity for one OF those refreshing little exhb,
tons of the utl!itaran spirit OF business enterprise
| In these days When the procession, including the
| marines and the artillery with muf1led drums and
draped nags, moved up the Avenue on It's way &c
| the house OF mourning, 1t was intended to lie sol
emn and appropriate ceremony, and 10 show in
digniGed aud fitting manner the sorrow OF large
body of people at the untimely death OF an eminen
man. There Is no ceremony more impressive than 6
military funeral, or more calculated to make spec
taor thoughtful, II not solemn. Close upon the las
ranks OF this procession aud forming Its last feature
Its rear guard, was preposterously small donkey
| harnessed TO proposterousy large cart bearing
great sign in naming letters, "Go TO Mulligan's Pic
MIC" The enterprise which will 90 to the gates Of
the tomb for chance to advertise a variety show
the management which will attach donkey car
with fantastic theatrical sign to a funeral process
sion, will doubtless make an impression on the spec
| tatorH. In the name OF decency, to say nothing o.
good taste, has not this sort of thing been allowed
go too far: Is there no better way Il
attract public attention than by impudence
II Ia quite bad enough for such device
TO fasten upon every parade OF local militia
every civil procession, every holiday demon
stration Of every sort. but when they snatch at
funeral to gain notorlety 1t is time TO draw the line
It may be cheap and effective way to advertise
but 1t is an aront to the and taste OF the com
munlty and among the population growing II
| such exhibitions will have miscnievous tendenc
to blur all solemn impressions and to give fippa1
and frivolous tone to thought which is far from dc
sirable. certain regard for propriety and ar
preparedness is needed not only among Individual
but communities, and when n city becomes the seen
OF such ragrant instance OF dsrespect to both 1t
time for 1t TO take measures TO preserve its dignity